Lately, I've been pondering a question: what does it really mean when more and more countries start to treat Bitcoin as strategic reserves?

In simple terms, this is a victory in the ideological war. Politically, it's called public opinion; in the crypto world, it's called consensus. No matter how powerful a government machine is or how dictatorial a ruler may be, they will ultimately be defeated by prevailing ideas. When a politician begins to promote the concept of Bitcoin as a strategic reserve, it means it has gained recognition from a significant number of people. Once this door opens, other politicians will follow suit, other countries will be alert, evaluate, reflect, and eventually jump on the bandwagon. The entry of Bitcoin into the strategic reserves of multiple nations is essentially a victory of civil rights over official authority.

The U.S. trusting in BTC is good for the world. What happens if the U.S. doesn't believe? Continue to push dollar hegemony, keep printing dollars to plunder others' resources and goods—that's true exploitation. Bitcoin's code is fully open source; anyone can review it, and Satoshi Nakamoto can't leave backdoors. Want to modify the code? Sure, but after you do, why would thousands of nodes worldwide run your version? That’s the power of mass consensus. Even a superpower like the U.S. can hardly change rules to plunder other Bitcoin holders.

Let's look at the U.S. plan first. Trump proposed the concept of strategic reserves at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference, planning to buy no more than 200k BTC annually, totaling 1 million over five years, about 5% of the global supply—comparable to the U.S. gold reserves. The funds for purchase come from the Federal Reserve System and the Treasury Department, with transparent and strategic processes. The government will hold the purchased Bitcoin for at least 20 years, during which it cannot sell except to pay off national debt. The 1 million BTC, currently valued at nearly $100 billion, is almost 19% of the Federal Reserve's gold reserves (about $530 billion). Compared to gold, which has a history spanning thousands of years, Bitcoin, just 15 years old, is launching a new challenge.

What is a strategic reserve asset? Simply put, it’s a key asset used by a country to respond to economic fluctuations, financial crises, or geopolitical risks, requiring high value, widespread acceptance, security, stability, and liquidity. Traditional examples include gold, foreign exchange reserves, and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). As an emerging digital asset, Bitcoin is gradually meeting these criteria.

Let’s look at other countries’ practices. El Salvador is the world’s first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, passing legislation in 2021 and launching the Chivo e-wallet to distribute Bitcoin to residents. Their president, Nayib Bukele, issues buy signals at the first sign of market volatility; as of December last year, they held 5,959.77 BTC, worth about $577 million. While not large on a global scale, their firm stance as a small economy is noteworthy.

Bhutan’s approach is even more interesting. They leverage hydroelectric power from the Himalayas to mine Bitcoin. Now, they are the fourth-largest government Bitcoin holder globally, with 13,011 BTC, worth over $1 billion, accounting for more than 25% of the country’s GDP. In terms of Bitcoin holdings, this small nation’s strategic vision is indeed ahead of the curve.

The strategic value of Bitcoin is shifting from the national level to corporations and institutions. What benefits do companies gain by including Bitcoin on their balance sheets? First, protection against inflation. The fixed total supply of 21 million coins gives Bitcoin strong scarcity and anti-inflation properties, helping stabilize asset value in a loose monetary environment. Second, diversification of investment portfolios, reducing reliance on a single asset and enhancing financial robustness. Third, brand image—holding Bitcoin demonstrates support for innovative technology and future economic models, boosting market competitiveness.

From zero 16 years ago to today, how many people dare to believe, are willing to believe, and persist in believing that Bitcoin will become a top-tier reserve asset for major world powers? Now, this prophecy is becoming a reality. Whether Bitcoin can officially become the strategic reserve of the U.S. or other countries in the next four years, it has already won an important victory on the path of adoption. This time window may be the key moment for the answer to be revealed.